Event Comment: For the Benefit of the British Lying In-Hospital for Married Women in Brownlow Street, Long Acre (Hopkins). Paid Salary list #501 13s. 6d.; Mrs Abington cloaths acct #2; Mrs S. French, 6 days #1 10s.; Mrs Weston 29 nights at 2s. 6d. per night #3 12s. 6d. Rec'd stopages #10 10s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #180 10s. 6d. Charges #84. Profit to hospital #96 10s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Norris. [The play is submerged in a long cconcert program of vocal and instrumental music.] At the Grotto Gardens, St George's Fields

Event Comment: Paid Black? Lyon bill #2 7s. 4d. (Treasurer's Book). [This is a recurring item weekly throughout the season varying in amounts from about #1 to #3. Tavern. Run by Yearley Waterer. Not noted further. Total payments this season about #75.] Public Advertiser, Theatrical Intelligence: Any Young Lady inclined to the Stage, is offered an advantageous Opportunity to experience her Theatrical Abilities in a very desirable Situation. As this Advertisement appears not from an itinerant Manager, nor results from a Dearth of People, but a Wish to promote Merit, which often (for want of the proper Mode of Application, or Fear in the Parties of their Intentions being made public, in case their Services should not be received) lies hid and unnoticed, it is hoped none but such as are possessed of a good Figure, as that will be greatly regarded, and whose Capabilities are blended with a real Inclination will apply. Enquire for W. at No. 114, in Long-Acre between the hours of Eleven and One on Wednesday or Thursday Morning in person, as no Attention will be paid to any Substitute. The Stage: A Gentlewoman, who has played capital Characters with unblemished Reputation in the three Kingdoms, takes this Method of acquainting such Ladies who have Talents and Inclination for the stage, that she undertakes to instruct them for the Profession many having been unsuccessful, more from Want of previous Instructions than Want of Genius. Her Attention to the great Articles of Reading and Speaking, with Elegance and Propriety, as well as Expression, Grace, and Ease, will be found of infinite Service to those who are assisted by the least Understanding. Those Ladies who do not intend to display their Talents in Public may be instructed for their Amusement. Enquire for E. H. No. 2 Queen Street, near Windmill Street, Haymarket. N.B. Any Lady will be waited on by a Line directed as above. [These advertisements ran for a number of days.] Receipts: #183 16s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: A New Tragedy [by Arthur Murphy] never performed The Music by Dr Arne. The Characters New Dress'd. [Long account and generally unfavorable review of Alzuma in the Westminster Magazine for March.] Receipts: #206 18s. 6d

Event Comment: Music of Afterpiece by Monsigny, Phillidor, and Dibdin. Books of songs at Theatre. The Farce was well rec'd the Music is very pretty. rather too long--much applause (Hopkins Diary). [MacMillan's note from Kemble differs slightly in wording.] Receipts: #183 18s. 6d. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Mainpiece: Not acted these 2 years. [See 25 Jan. 1772.] [Brown identified by Kemble note on playbill. Macklin no longer appears on the playlist. This day is published at 1s. 6d. The Duellist, a Comedy, as it was represented at the Theatre Royal in Covent Garden. To which is prefixed a concise Narrative of the very Extraordinary Circumstances attending its Reception. T. Evans Bookseller.] Receipts: #188 1s. (Account Book)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Woodman, late of Covent Garden, left a Widow with five Children. By Permission of the Lord Chamberlain. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. To begin at 6:00 p.m. [Public Advertiser, 21 Feb., contained a long letter concerning the small attendance on this occasion: "One of the finest Female Singers this Country has for many years produced is now, through a Series of Misfortunes as unavoidable as unforeseen, in a State of Wretchedness scarcely credible. [Her husband, a schoolteacher, died.] Alas! she had five helpless innocent to drink of the same bitter Cup, to harrow up all the Heartstrings of a Mother, and to tear her Soul unavailingly for that Support, of which she herself was depriv'd by the Death of their Father. [The expenses of the benefit performance exceeded the receipts of the house.] Calamity became heaped upon Calamity, and she is now weeping in a Prison, over her unhappy little ones, for a Sum not exceeding #50." Appeal is made for gifts to relieve her. On 23 May, Mrs Woodman released from prison, gave a Benefit Concert at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, concluding with an Occasional Musical Address to the Town called The Grateful Acknowledgment, written and the music compiled from a most eminent Master by Adam Smith, sung by Mrs Woodman.

Event Comment: Benefit for Miss Barsanti. The Long Continuance of Miss Barsanti's illness, together with a very recent affliction which has fallen the family, having rendered it impossible for her to appear on the stage, Mrs Bulkley has kindly undertaken to perform's for her; which Miss Barsanti humbly hopes will be agreeable to her friends, and that any little apparent Omission, under such peculiar circumstances, will not be construed into want of respect, but that she shall nevertheless obtain the favour of their accustomed patronage

Event Comment: The Managers have given orders that no performer shall appear behind the scenes who is not concerned in the business of the night. The performers now come on and go off without interruption, and the audience in the Upper Boxes are no longer insulted with the monkey tricks of the unemployed actors who used to infest the wings (Folger news clipping from the Morning Post 28 Sept.)

Event Comment: Afterpiece: Not acted these 6 years. [See 11 May 1772.] [Young gentleman identified by Hopkins MS Notes. Genest, V, 517, also calls attention to the fact that the text lists Douglas as Norval and Old Norval as Stranger (1757) or Prisoner (1768). Webster first named as Douglas on bill for 27 Feb. 1776. Review of Webster's acting appeared in the Westminster Magazine for Jan.: "His person is rather elegant; his voice is full and harmonious, his pronunciation distinct and correct, and his delivery graceful and unembarassed. Those are his excellencies, and considering it was his first performance, he seems to possess them in a degree far superior to the various candidates for theatrical fame which the managers of both houses have brought forward for some years past. On the other hand he is aukward, and in some parts unanimated. His arms are too long, or he flung them about in a very disgusting manner. He seemed to express the sense of his author much better than his own feelings. His voice though full, wants variety and modulation; not but on some occasions he managed it with infinite grace and judgement. But if this want of variety of tones and extent of voice, which is so indispensibly necessary to constitute a first rate actor, be not the effect of Nature, the Public may behold with less anxiety their decayed veterans giving nightly proofs of their increasing infirmities, and quick approaching theatrical dissolution."

Event Comment: Street Ballad, The Duenna or the Double Elopement, a new song to an old Tune: @In the days of Gay, they sing and say,@The town was full of folly:@For all day long, its sole sing-song@Was pretty, pretty Polly.@So now-a-days, as it was in Gay's,@The world's run mad again-a@From morn to night its whole delight@To cry up the Duenna.@One half the town still talks of Brown@The other of Leoni,@While those sly curs, the managers,@Keep pocketing the money... [Brown was the original Clara in the opera. See 16 Dec. 1775 (Hampden, Journal).

Event Comment: Benefit and Increase of a Fund established for the support of Decayed Musicans, or their Families. N.B. The singers have taken cold by sitting too [long] on the stage, it is humbly requested that the [audience] will indulge them with coming on to sing and leaving when the song is finished (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: Sga Sestini thinks it her Duty to assure, in this Public Manner, the English Nobility Gentry and Public, of her unfeign'd Gratitude for their numerous appearance on Thursday Night 28 March at her Benefit as she looks upon it as the most convincing Proof of their honouring her with the continuance of their kind Indulgence and Protection, which she will always use her utmost Endeavour to deserve as long as she shall continue in England, and retain the most grateful Rembrance of wherever her Profession may call her (Public Advertiser)

Event Comment: Prelude [1st time: PREL 1, by George Colman elder; incidental music by Thomas Linley Sen. and Nicola Piccinni. Prologue by David Garrick (Poetical Works, II, 327)]. The Words of the Songs in [the] Prelude will be given at the Theatre. The Doors to be opened at 5:3O. To begin at 6:30 [see 11 Nov.]. Boxes 5s. Pit 3s. 1st Gallery 2s. Upper Gallery 1s. Places for the Boxes to be taken of Fosbrook at the Stage Door. No Money to be taken at the Stage Door, nor any Money returned after the Curtain is drawn up. The TR opened this Season under the Management of Messrs Lacy, Sheridan, Ford and Linley. This Summer the Flys has been raised considerably--the Stage widened and heitened--the orchestra enlarged, and Iron ornaments at the Top. New Brooms written by G. Colman Esq. went off with tolerable Applause--is much too long (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 3 Oct. 1776: This Day at Noon will be published New Brooms! (1s.). [Yates had last acted Malvolio at dl on 6 Jan. 1764 and at cg on 5 May 1772.] Receipts: #269 19s. 6d

Event Comment: [Afterpiece in 3 acts, altered from Garrick's original 5 acts by Richard Brinsley Sheridan.] The Music composed by Dibdin. With New Dresses. The Scenes, Machines, &c. invented by DeLoutherbourg. The Christmas Tale reduced to three Acts (by R. B. Sheridan esq.) was performed for the first time as a Farce--was received with very great Applause--it is too long, and must be shortened (Hopkins Diary). Public Advertiser, 22 Oct. 1776: This Day at Four o'Clock will be published A Christmas Tale (1s.) [For Baker see 28 Sept.] Receipts: #241 14s

Event Comment: Benefit for the British Lying-in-Hospital, for Married Women, in Brownlow-street, Long-acre. Receipts: #165 (98.5.6; 0.0.0; 1.8.6; tickets: 65.6.0) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Bradshaw, Mrs Love & Mrs Johnston. Public Advertiser, 14 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Bradshaw, No. 93, near Craven Buildings, Drury-lane; of Mrs Love, at Booth's, Brownlow-street, Long-acre; of Mrs Johnston, No. 97, near Craven Buildings, Drury-lane. Receipts: #166 4s. (65.16; 13.14; 0.0; tickets: 86.14) (charge: #65 6s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Quick. Afterpiece: Altered from Fielding; not acted these 17 years [not acted since 10 May 1759]. Public Advertiser, 3 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Quick at Boyes's, Coachmaker, Long-Acre. Receipts: #278 15s. (160.15; tickets: 118.0) (charge: #65 10s.)

Event Comment: "A Gentleman who is as mad as myself about the School remark'd that the Characters upon the Stage at the falling of the Screen stand too long before they speak-I thought so too the first Night-he said it was the same on the 2d & was remark'd by others-tho they should be astonish'd & a little petrify'd, yet it may be carry'd to too great a length" (David Garrick to R. B. Sheridan, 12 May 1777, in The Letters of David Garrick, ed. D. M. Little and G. M. Kahrl, 1963, III, 1163). Receipts: #195 13s. (184.7; 10.19; 0.7)

Event Comment: The Opera having been found too long on the first Representation has since been revised and curtailed to a proper Length

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Robinson. Morning Chronicle, 6 Apr.: Tickets to be had of Mrs Robinson, at Parviso's, No. 114, Long acre. Afterpiece [1st time; CO 2, by Mary Robinson. Larpent MS 447; not published]: The Music chiefly compiled. Tickets delivered for King Lear will be taken. Books of the Performances to be had at the Theatre. Receipts: #153 17s. 6d. (57.8.0; 21.3.6; 0.10.0: tickets: 74.16.0) (charge: #78 11s. 6d.)

Event Comment: Benefit for Condell, Evans & Curteen, box-keepers. Tickets sold at the doors will not be admitted. Public Advertiser, 12 May: Tickets to be had of Condell, Cross-court, Duke's-court, Bow-street, Covent Garden; of Evans at Bromfield's, Trunk-maker, No. 118, Long-acre; of Curteen, No. 11, Temple-lane, White-friars. Receipts: #259 5s. (53.3; tickets: 206.2) (charge: #105)

Event Comment: Benefit for Condell, Evans & Curteen, box-keepers. Tickets sold at the Doors will not be admitted. Mainpiece: On account of the additional Airs, contracted into 3 Acts. The Music by Purcell, Smith, Arne & Fisher. [Wright is identified by MS annotation on Kemble playbill. And see 8 May.] Public Advertiser, 7 May: Tickets to be had of Condell, Cross-court, Bow-street, Covent Garden; of Evans, at Bromfield's, trunk-maker, No. 118, Long-acre; of Curteen, No. 11, Temple-lane, Whitefriars

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Colles, the Widow Legg & Miss Kirby. Morning Post, 17 May: Tickets to be had of Miss Kirby, No. 70, Long-acre [others not listed]. Receipts: #225 15s. (37.9.0; 11.11.6; 1.2.6; tickets: 175.120) )charge: #105)

Event Comment: [Miss Harper was taken ill; The Irish Widow was thereupon substituted and begun, but the audience was clamorous, and insisted on The Son-in-Law. A long delay ensued until the proper acters had been brought back to the theatre and until they were dressed. Mrs Jewell read Miss Harper's part. While trying to find out what the audience wanted, Bannister retorted sharply from the stage to one of the noisiest of the objectors. This action caused several letters to be written to various newspapers debating the right of a "servant of the public" to reprimand a member of the audience even when that member might be in the wrong (Morning Chronicle, 16 Sept., et seq.).] The last Night of the Season